From performing Chekhov to reinterpreting Shakespeare on the big stage and small stage, the Glendale Community College’s theater production has once again been selected to compete for the Irene Ryan Scholarship at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, or KCACTF.

Nikko Haller, theater arts major, is nominated for his portrayal of Lopakhin in the GCC’s Spring 2017 production of “The Cherry Orchard.” This is Haller’s second nomination for the Irene Ryan Scholarship. His first nomination was for playing The Clown in “Elephant’s Graveyard.” Haller plans to continue as professional actor in theater and film.

Haller noted that winning isn’t everything. “There are scouts from all over the place,” he said. “Last year even Cirque Du Soleil was there. So even if you don’t move on to nationals you still have a chance to get noticed and picked up by someone.” He elaborated that even outside of the scouts the nominees will be exposed to actors from four-year colleges. Being around these actors could help pick the school they’d like to transfer to. Haller added “you also get tickets to a lot of shows. That’s cool.”

Josh Adam got nominated for playing Howard in “Bench Dogs,” a short play which was part of the Spring 2017 Ten Minutes Play Festival. This is his first nomination. He stated that there are eight regional competitions; GCC is in the eighth region. If Adam and his acting companions win the regionals they get $500 and a chance to move to the national competition. The winners of the nationals get a $2,500 scholarship. Adam and Haller both stated that even if they don’t win nationals, the fact that they participate and are given a good chance to network with the people who matter is extremely valuable.Paula Hantower, a theatre arts major, is going to the KCACTF for the first time also. She got her nomination for playing the Daughter in the “Enemies of the Hospital” during the spring 2017 Ten Minute Play Festival. In 2016, Hantower left her home in Sao Paulo, Brazil and moved to Los Angeles. She took part in many productions in Brazil. Hantower said it was always her dream to come to the US and make it big. If her nomination isn’t enough of a sign that she’s on the right track to succeeding, Hantower also got the starring rolls of Viola and Cesario in the fall 2017 GCC production of “Twelfth Night.” She expressed excitement about the competition and said she hopes to win while having fun.

Caesar Ceralde is also competing to win the Irene Ryan Scholarship. He received his first nomination during the spring 2017 One Act Play Festival for the role of Charlie the Seagull in “Biodegradable Seagulls.” Ceralde was surprised when Jeanette Farr offered him this roll in the play since he never auditioned for it. However, Farr had noticed his performance in the 2016 “Motel Plays” and she decided that he was perfect for the roll.

Ceralde wanted to thank Anthony Leyva for pushing others to give him a roll in the “Motel Plays.” He also wants to thank Ed Douglas for mentoring and coaching him to be ready for the KCACTFs. Ceralde has finished his theater arts major and is considering a major in journalism.

Francisco Macedo, theater arts major, is nominated for the first time for playing the Fool in the fall 2017 production of Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night.” Macedo said he has been working hard as an actor for five years. Macedo explains his performance as “living in the moment, as another creature.” He he hopes that “we [GCC] can show what we can do to everyone.”

Logan Spahitz is also nominated for the first time for his role as Camper No. 4 in “Beach Dogs” during the spring 2017 Ten Minute Play Festival. Spahitz hopes to take advantage of everything that occurs during the competition. He states that GCC has never gone past the first round of the tryouts. He hopes to make it farther with everyone this time around. Macedo and Spahitz are both planning to impress the recruitment staff. Spahitz has a degree in criminal justice from San Diego State University and is working towards a theater arts major in Glendale Community College.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about you,” said Gebeily recalling some of her experience earlier in the year to a crowd gathered in the Auditorium for a special journalism event sponsored by the Language Arts’ Journalism program at Glendale Community College. “It’s about the story,” she said, touching on the need for human emotion and capacity for understanding.

Earlier this year while in northern Syria for a month Gebeily reported on the Battle of Raqqa between Kurdish-dominated Syrian Democratic Forcesforces and the Islamic State. She had been in contact with a doctor that lived inside Raqqa and was giving her information on what was happening there. After talking to him a couple of times she lost touch with him. Months later, when she was close to the city of the man that she had been talking to, Gebeily met a woman who told her about her son that used to live in Raqqa and was treating people inside the city. The woman said her son had recently been killed.

Gebeily found out that the woman’s son was the man she had been in contact with. She described it as one of the most chilling experiences she has ever had. “It’s really hard to keep your emotions out of the story when something like that happens,” Gebeily said via Skype. “It’s really hard to report on this woman, just as this random person that you met.”

Gebeily comes from a Lebanese background and used to visit Lebanon during the summers as a child, she explained, developing an attachment to her cultural background. Surprisingly, Gebeily never went to school for journalism. After getting her degree in international relations, she realized that she didn’t want to end up behind a desk.

Throughout the years, her interest in Lebanon and Syria had grown bigger and bigger, and Gebeily wanted to see what it was like to actually live and work in Lebanon. In Beirut, she was offered a job at a local news website called NOW Lebanon. A year ago, she got an offer at the AFP.

Gebeily describes Lebanon as a beautiful place to live, and that it’s “not all bombs and war” despite what some may think. Although, being a female journalist in Middle East has it pros and cons, she said. Even though some rooms can be harder to get into, there are rooms only women and children can enter. Gebeily has never been denied an interview, but she explained that it can sometimes be harder for her as a woman to earn someone’s trust and get the information she’s looking for.

Reporting from Middle East comes with taking risks and it’s important to always be prepared in training and equipment. Gebeily said it’s crucial to “never leave without your helmet,” flack jacket and emergency kit.

Understanding how it works and the context that you’re in, what to look out for, who to talk to, where to go, and how to behave when being in a vulnerable situation is the key to being safe, she said.

Gebeily thinks it is important for aspiring journalists to know that they don’t have to be or think in a specific way to become a reporter and that all journalists view things in different ways.

The two most important qualities as a journalist is to be someone that people can trust and to stay curious. “If you can stay curious, if you continue to ask questions, that will take you so far,” she said. “Never take anything for granted, never take an answer for granted, continue to ask why, who, where, when, how.”

The new Sierra Vista building is practically complete and will be ready to hold classes for the Spring 2018 semester.

Yes, we’re serious this time.

The 95,000-square-foot, three-story, $49-million building that Vaqueros have watched grow and evolve over the years will officially open its doors in late February. It is now in “cleanup” phase, where the final touches are to be applied before the first programs make their scheduled move-in.

The Extended Opportunity and Program Services (EOPS), as well as Financial Aid, will make the transition first on Dec. 15 while the campus in on break.

Sierra Vista will be a one-stop shop for a collection of different services and classes.

The first floor houses the journalism department, including this award-winning newspaper, El Vaquero, on the south end of the building. When you first enter the double doors on the north side, you’re met by a pair of elevators on the left, and a door leading to a few offices on the opposite side.

A long, slender hallway leads you to the journalism department. Before that, though, entrances on the right side of the hallway guide you to a massive, open-floor lounge area. The first area is the “Active Lab” and is filled with single- and multi-person desks equipped with charging ports, as well as couches and chairs.

Here, students can check out iPads and Chromebooks for academic purposes. Printing services are available, too.

This room also has glass-encased group areas on the north side, and a medium-sized Starbucks station that is similar to those found in grocery stores like Vons and Ralph’s.

Continuing through the room will lead you to the “Quiet Lab” which is a library-like study environment. Sound-proof glass keeps disruptive noises from the “Active Lab” out. In here are long, multi-person desks and enclosed single-person desks with fold-down table tops. Large practice rooms, similar to the ones found in the Library, line the south side of the Quiet Lab, which can be used for group projects.

Both open-floor areas have giant windows on the west side that let in ambient light – a proven method of increasing student mood and performance.

The second floor holds 14 classrooms and over 30 staff offices equipped with state-of-the-art ergonomic desks and furniture. Two long hallways border the classrooms in the middle of the floor. This is where the anthropology lab and prep rooms are located.

These classrooms have single-student and collaborative desks, with a podium for the professor. On one side of each classroom is an entire wall covered in a Wink water-based paint that transforms it into a write-and-erase canvas.

It’s a wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor dry-erase surface; a professor’s dream. If you run out of whiteboard space now, you better be writing some groundbreaking mathematical proof – these things are huge.

On the south end of the second floor is the Culinary Arts program, which includes multiple professional kitchens, a walk-in freezer and refrigerator, dining area, as well as an outdoor patio.

The third floor contains most of the administrative services. Walk up the stairs and you will be met by an immense, arching window giving you a picturesque view of the San Gabriel mountains to the north.

Immediately to the left is the information desk. A roughly thirty-foot-wide hallway dotted with skylights up above leads you past the services housed on the floor.

This includes: Admissions and Records, Financial Aid, EOPS, Assessment, Job Placement and Career Center, International Students Office, as well as the Academic Counseling offices, among others. The administration will also have their own break room accompanied with an outdoor seating area.

The building has been awarded LEED Silver status. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a rating system put together to evaluate the environmental performance of a building. Buildings can be rated silver, gold, or platinum. Sierra Vista achieved Silver status because of its low-flush toilets that use reclaimed water, as well as its ground-source heating and cooling.

Everything that Sierra Vista offers is likely to shift the entire gravity of campus towards it. The skeleton of the building and it’s surrounding pathways that served solely as a corridor for students to get from one side of campus to the other will now be a bustling hub of student, faculty, and administrative activity.

It’s been a long journey for GCC and the Sierra Vista building. The College and the original contractor – Mallcraft Inc. – broke ground in October 2013 with an initial completion date of November 2015.

The building was at 95 percent completion in April 2015, but repeated setbacks left Glendale College with no choice but to terminate the contract with Mallcraft Inc. Toby Hayward Inc. took over the project. Thenew contractor had to deconstruct many of the mechanical systems that were deemed substandard, like the HVAC and firestop systems. This brought the completion percentage down to 75 percent. The building is presently nearly ready to be turned over to GCC.

Just how knowledgeable are you about disabilities? Take this quick True/False quiz (center) and get your own Disability Awareness Quotient (DAQ.) The answers start below.

TAKE THE QUIZ!

TRUE OR FALSE?

1. T/F: DSPS stands for Disabled Students Programs and Services.

2. T/F: The primary function of using the term ‘disability’ is to designate members of a specific group whose civil rights are protected by law.

3. T/F: The majority of the population with disabilities are either blind/low vision, deaf/hard of hearing, or have limited use of their bodies.

4. T/F: People who use wheelchairs are paralyzed so they cannot participate in activities like swimming or cycling.

5. T/F: Students who are blind automatically have the math requirement waived because they cannot see to solve problems containing graphics such as number lines and geometric shapes.

6. T/F: Students with disabilities get unlimited time to take exams.

7. T/F: Only students who are blind are allowed to audio record class lectures.

8. T/F: If GCC students suspect they have a disability, they can talk to a DSPS counselor about it and their conversation will remain confidential.

9. T/F: Students on the Garfield campus who want to speak with a counselor about their disability have to make an appointment with a counselor on the Verdugo campus.

10. T/F: The percentage of students with disabilities who successfully complete their courses is typically above the percentages of the general student population.

Answers

1. True – It is the mission of the DSPS program here at Glendale College to ensure that students with disabilities are all given equal opportunity to earn a quality education at GCC.

2. True – Disability is really an unfortunate term because of the stigma that comes attached to it. People who have a low disability awareness quotient (DAQ) still believe that having a disability means a person is damaged and incapable of being successful.In truth, a more correct term would be differently-abled.

3. False – Physical disabilities are the most obvious, and so seem to be the prevalent portion of the population. In reality, they constitute about 24 percent of the students with disabilities at GCC. The other 76 percent is made up of what is often referred to as the ‘hidden disabilities.’ These include learning disabilities, Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and various other neurological conditions that certainly make learning challenging, though not impossible.

Students with varying disabilities greatly benefit from these courses by building the strength, endurance, flexibility and dexterity they need to perform in other academic classes.In addition, Glendale College has a Power Soccer team.These athletes, who use power wheelchairs, compete with other teams from the area.

5. False – Students with disabilities are held to the same academic standards as the nondisabled population.They have the same course requirements and are subject to the same academic rigor in order to earn a certificate, degree, or ability to transfer.

6. False – Having unlimited time to take a test would be of little benefit to anyone. If you don’t know the information, you don’t know it, and no amount of time is going to change that. There are a number of disabilities that prevent an otherwise qualified student from completing tests under the standard time limits. Some students may need more time to process the questions, or to retrieve the answers from their memory. Those with attention deficits use the extra time to focus their attention, while those with anxiety issues use it to quiet their emotions.

Students who are blind receive triple the time the rest of the class receives.Most others are allotted double time.Extended time them to demonstrate their mastery of the course material so that they are graded on their abilities, not their disabilities.

7.False – GCC has a Board Policy that confirms it is a reasonable accommodation to allow any student with a disability to audio record classroom lectures. The High Tech Center department of DSPS has a number of software programs and adapted devices for assisting students with disabilities, including note taking assistance.

8.True – If a student feels they are not getting the kind of grades they should be, considering the amount of effort they are putting into a class, they can make an appointment with one of the counselors in the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) on the second floor of San Rafael.The counselor will listen to the student’s concerns and together they will decide on a plan of action. The DSPS staff is obligated by law to keep this information confidential.

9.False – DSPS also has a counselor whose office is at the Garfield campus.

10.True – The numbers of students with disabilities who make it through each fall semester and persist through the spring semester has been consistently higher than the averages for the total student population.In addition, they match the total population in number of units they complete each semester and their mean grade point average is equivalent.

Your DAQ Score

8 to 10 Correct – Congratulations; you have an impressively high DAQ!That’s something to be proud of.

5 to 7 Correct – That’s not a great score, but don’t spend too much time being embarrassed.Just by completing the quiz, you have already made strides in raising your DAQ.

0 to 4 Correct – Your DAQ is low.Don’t be alarmed; you just need to spend some time getting educated on the subject of disabilities.For more information, visit: https://tinyurl.com/GCCDSPS

Few films feature characters capable of making viewers experience all the emotions on the spectrum. Writer and director Martin McDonagh’s third full-length, original film “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” is one of them.

The film begins when grieving mother Mildred Hayes (McDormand) puts three forgotten billboards in the fictional town of Ebbing to unconventional use. “Raped While Dying,” “And Still No Arrests,” “How Come, Chief Willoughby?” is the message presented in bold letters.

The message refers to Hayes’ teenage daughter’s grim fate months before the film is set.

Snapshots of their relationship and events leading to the daughter’s murder are shown throughout, but it’s McDormand’s painstaking portrayal of hardened grief that makes the death most striking.

The billboards place town residents in a difficult position. They don’t believe Chief Willoughby (Harrelson) should be singled out, but they’re uncomfortable confronting Hayes due to her loss.

But not everyone is hesitant to voice their dissatisfaction. Police officer Dixon (Rockwell) is adamant about carrying out impulses – something that left him with an accurately racist, angry and tarnished image.

The film becomes a strategic, often violent, game between Hayes, Dixon and Willoughby to decide the billboards’ fate and that of daughter Angela Hayes’ case.

The feud’s sensitive nature reveals layers of all three characters that enable viewers to sympathize with them – even, if not especially at some point, Dixon. McDonagh admits Rockwell achieved a daunting task in portraying the complex character.

“There’s a sensitivity and a vulnerability to Sam’s acting that he was able to tap into,” said the director during a Venice Film Festival interview. “You can see his anger is covering up some issues, and I think that’s one of the surprises of the film.”

Protagonist Hayes is also incredibly nuanced, and because the film starts several months after her daughter’s death, McDormand said she had to imagine her different stages of grief.

“There was Angela’s death, then seven months of paralysis,” said McDormand. “Then she became radicalized when she made the decision to rent the billboards. The only way she could survive was by action, not paralysis.”

Part of Hayes’ draw is her refusal to retract her actions despite the collateral damage, namely her son Robbie. McDormand considers her unbound perseverance a positive thing. “She stands out of time in our culture,” said the actress.

Police Chief Willoughby is often the voice of reason mediating Hayes and Dixon’s impulsive behavior. And while Harrelson is known for playing eccentric characters, he expertly portrays the level-headed, sharp-tongued chief.

It was just days before Halloween when the Buzzfeed article dropped. Following the premiere of the Harvey Weinstein Hollywood debacle, Buzzfeed News broke news that former “Star Trek Enterprise” actor, Anthony Rapp, had come forward with allegations that Kevin Spacey sexually assaulted him at a party in 1986. Since Rapp’s initial admission, there have been dozens of other victims that have spoken up with their own accounts of inappropriate or lewd acts initiated by Spacey. But before any of the other accusations surfaced Spacey released a response in the form of an “apology,” and now infamous coming out moment.

While everyone is aware of the outrage circulating Spacey’s decision to seemingly deflect the much larger task of taking responsibility for continuous harassment, and electing to downplay the many case(s) of sexual assault and predation with something as courageous and vulnerable as coming out, has anyone questioned why Spacey is under the impression that correlating the two is acceptable…as a gay man himself? He has never openly lived in the culture that defines him and is, in turn, ignorant on how to navigate it.

“He tried to mix pedophelia with homosexuality, as if they had anything to do with each other,” said Susan Sarandon, one of many celebrities who’ve chosen to speak out against Spacey’s failed apology and coming out attempt. “I am sorry to hear of Anthony Rapp’s experience and subsequent suffering, and am sorry that Kevin only saw fit to acknowledge his truth when he thought it would serve him, just as his denial served him for so many years,” tweeted Zachary Quinto.

As crucial as it is to reprimand for obvious reasons, herein lies a problem. While focused on the fact that Spacey ignorantly chose to come out at the most inappropriate time, inadvertently connecting two things that are nowhere near intrinsically linked (homosexuality/deviance), an erroneous rationale that happens continuously in the U.S. by the way, we have glossed over the matter of why he resorted to this kind of behavior in the first place. In no defense of the actor’s wrong doings or actions, as there is no excuse, one should still question any kind of motive and what could have possibly led to the various instances, as well as how they can be prevented from happening again. It goes without question that there’s already a blinding stigma correlated to the LGBT community, which attaches its “predatory deviant“ label to what it means to be queer. And while deviance is proven to be relative, rather than absolute, one can come to the pretty simple conclusion that we certainly still live among friends, colleagues, and family members who believe being gay is a choice that is continuously made incorrectly. As a result, there are three kinds of oppression queer people face, all with their own various forms of doing so, according to D. Stanley Eitzen, emeritus professor of sociology at Colorado State, and co-author of “Social Problems.”

Needless to say, Hollywood—the industry that seems to be at the forefront of the pro-gay crusade— isn’t exempt from this type of behavior. Personal testimonies of anti-gay discrimination in the entertainment industry have been recorded in a study conducted by UCLA on sexual orientation and gender identity based on experiences and perspectives of 5,700 SAG-AFTRA members in 2012. “A director told me to recast a role after he found out the lead was a gay male,” said one member. While the executive summary reads; “Though the entertainment industry through film, television, and other media reflects positive social changes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the U.S., we currently know little about the progress toward full inclusion of LGBT performers in entertainment.”

However inappropriate a time to do so, Spacey resulted in stepping out of the proverbial closet he’d taken residence in for a majority of his life. Living in hiding…within himself—yeah, wrap your head around that one—in conjunction with juggling what the rest of the world expected of his sexuality, on top of natural impulses driven by his consistently repressed true identity, warrants room for some fraction of confusion in anyone’s mind. Even reading it aloud elicits a dazed reaction. The line between what is right and wrong, socially accepted, tolerated, or even frowned upon could become blurred for anyone experiencing high stressors and contradicting internal struggles.

Born in 1959, it can only be assumed that Spacey came across his fair share of fellow colleagues’ criticisms of gay or queer culture in the workplace.

Even as an up and coming entertainer. The plight in this particular setting remains to be Spacey’s willingness to retreat to the closet in an industry, and country, that says “caucasian, heterosexual male” is the ultimate master status.

It’s a slippery slope that some navigate with more finesse than Spacey’s heteronormative-industry-driven ignorance to his own “status” in gay and queer culture.

The idea of gay-shame seems to have fueled Spaceys decision to remain coy about his sexuality as he reaped the benefits of the previously mentioned master status, into which he’s chosen to willingly secede. The same country that told him he shouldn’t be gay, in turn elevated him to a platform of power, under his own cowering false pretenses. Inevitably granting Spacey the same power awarded to Weinstein. The elitist idea that they are in such a position of power that they manipulate situations where they feel in control, and eventually commit multiple acts of sexual harassment and assault.

Never allowing himself to live as an openly gay man and navigating the world as the alternative has complicated Spaceys state of mind and has resulted in finding some form of solace, no matter how inappropriate, in other outlets. Blurred lines, confusion, and the intent to abuse power in various inappropriate ways plague his entire thought processes.

Since the initial statement by Rapp, followed by Spaceys hastily posted “apology,” 20 claims have risen against him at the Old Vic Theater in London where he served as artistic director for several years, eight from the crew of House of Cards, and another involving the son of news anchor Heather Unruh.

Consequently it was announced that filming for the Netflix original House of Cards, starring Spacey, had been put on hiatus only to be announced that the sixth and final season would hopefully return soon, sans-Spacey. Netflix eliminated a Gore Vidal biopic starring Spacey, initially slotted for 2018. He was also removed from and replaced in the previously completed filming of All the Money in the World, still scheduled to premiere December 22nd. “I think it’s very sad what happened to him. Kevin is such a talented and a terrifically gifted actor, and it’s so sad. It’s such a shame,” said Christopher Plummer, who replaced Spacey, to Vanity Fair. Since then Spacey has been dropped by both, his talent agency as well as his publicist.

In early November Spacey has checked himself into a sex addiction rehabilitation center in Arizona. Coincidentally enough, the same facility that Harvey Weinstein has been admitted. It seems as if Kevin has managed to develop a habit of attempting to “apologize” or “fix” the issue, yet promptly following it with an action almost as disheartening and disappointing.

Here’s to hoping that moving forward only lessons are learned and resolutions will be determined in light of these unfortunate, but eye-opening events, that only continue to surface. The #MeToo movement has only just begun to spark conversation and attract attention to situations happening regularly. Not only with women, but with anyone. And not just in Hollywood, but everywhere. Now that this has become a morbid reality, it is up to our society as a whole to have the taboo discussions that are constantly brushed to the side and become advocates for change. Urge to understand–and, if necessary, be the proponent for change in the way societal norms have negative effects on everyone and anyone. “[I] hope to work within the industry to create infrastructure to prevent predatory behavior, and give victims more recourse to safely speak out,” Rapp told Buzzfeed. Unlike Spacey, find meaning and comfort in your own master status, whether it be gay, black, trans, female, etc. and welcome it in hopes of enlightenment, prevention, and overall positive change.

Star gymnast and two-time Olympic athlete Aly Raisman took to Instagram recently to speak out against those who blame sexual assault on the way victims dress. “Just because a woman does a sexy photo shoot or wears a sexy outfit does not give a man the right to shame her or not believe her when she comes forward about sexual abuse,” Raisman, who took home six Olympic medals as a member of the U.S. women’s gymnastics teams, the “Fierce Five” in 2012 and “Final Five” in 2016, wrote on the social media channel. “What is wrong with some of you?”

In response, Raisman’s former teammate, Douglas wrote on Twitter that “it is our responsibility as women to dress modestly and be classy.” Douglas went on to suggest that perhaps Raisman was enticing “the wrong crowd,” possibly alluding to a Sports Illustrated body issue that Raisman was featured in. Douglas has since apologized for her remarks and deleted the Tweet.

Raisman’s has come forward accusing Larry Nassar, a former Olympic doctor who is accused of multiple incidents of sexual abuse of young gymnasts. Nassar allegedly molested dozens of girls who were under his care. Though it should hardly matter, at the time of the abuse, Raisman had not posed for any Sports Illustrated spreads. It’s worth noting that male athletes pose for the same magazine issue, which focuses on aesthetics and the human body in it’s most sculpted form. But men are treated differently, aren’t they?

Compounding the issue, Douglas said last week that she had also been sexually abused by Nassar. It makes one a little perplexed by her initial comments, but could also be due in part to how victims often see themselves in a negative light. For some victims, they often feel as if they deserved the poor treatment.

Women are faced with sexual harassment almost every day. From being catcalled as they are walking down the streets, to being stared and hunted down by those who can’t take no for an answer. It can be as simple as a guy sending a message through social media. When there is no answer given or a woman isn’t interested, she is automatically called all kinds of names.

Sometimes women do it to other women.

A woman could be picked apart every day, from the way she dresses, to how she looks, to the way she talks. No one bats an eyelash. If a woman dresses somewhat revealing it becomes a gateway for people to say, “well, if she dresses like that, it’s because she wants attention.”

The public is so caught up constantly trying to find excuses to cover up their defamatory conduct against women when they should be learning how to mind their own business. They should be learning that no means no, and that a woman is entitled to do whatever she pleases with herself without having to be bashed on by people she doesn’t know or worrying that she will gain negative reputation.

Six in 10 women have been sexually harassed, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released this month.

Women who have been sexually harassed have difficulty speaking out, not because they’re lying, but because the response they get back from the public makes them feel embarrassed.

Lots has changed, but, in many ways, too often there are little ramifications for abusers.

Anita Hill, the Brandeis University professor, provides an interesting glimpse at how much has changed and, at the same time, stayed the same.

In 1991, Hill came out strongly against Clarence Thomas, now a Supreme Court justice, over a pattern of abuse. She described how Thomas, who had been her boss, had sexually harassed her by asking her out and every time she refused, he would demean her. Hill was brave. However, she was made a pariah by a dozen women who had previously worked with her.When asked to take a polygraph, Hill took hers and passed. Thomas refused to take one. He eventually went on to be confirmed to the Supreme Court. It was like nothing had ever happened.

“Women who accuse men, particularly powerful men, of harassment are often confronted with the reality of the men’s sense that they are more important than women, as a group,” Anita once said.

And, as sad it may be, this ultimately is the case for many women who speak out.

Sexual abuse is hardly a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans who are powerful are equally problematic in the way they have behaved. After all, too much power can, evidently, lead to corruption. Former President Bill Clinton was accused of multiple instances of abuse, but the women were often discredited. President Donald Trump has been called out, but went on to become the president to the United States.

The strategy was simple for the Glendale College Men’s and Women’s cross country teams this season. The pack would fill in tight behind Raymond Lopez for the men’s team and Angie Salas for the women’s team and the rest would take care of itself.

In ten cross country meets, from the end of August until the state meet in Fresno on November 18, Lopez and Salas were amazingly consistent and incredibly durable. They were the top finishers for their respective teams in each race, coming out on top in several meets in oppressive heat, annoying winds and cool temperatures as the season came to a close.

The pressure to be the team leaders for the Glendale College cross country program was understandable as the Vaqueros have run their way to becoming one of the top programs in the state year after year under head coach Eddie Lopez and his staff.

It was particularly daunting for the women’s team this year as they were two-time defending state champions in 2015 and in 2016, when Salas was a freshman as well as winning its 13-straight Western State Conference team title. In all, the women’s team has won eight state championships since 1977 and the men five since 1974.

“Raymond and Angie did a tremendous job of representing the team and themselves this year,” said head cross country coach Eddie Lopez. “They were very consistent and as captains they were great role models who led by example. I fully expect them to have great track seasons in the spring and to options on what four-year schools they want to attend when the time comes next year.’’

While a fifth-place finish in state for the women and a sixth-place finish this year for the men would look a bit unfamiliar, it was still a very successful season as the Glendale men and women both won Western State Conference Championships, and Lopez and Salas were named Western State Conference Athletes of the Year.

The road to success in cross country is littered with hundreds of miles run, countless ice bags to sooth sore muscles and endless van rides taking team members to meets all over the state. It takes a team of coaches, trainers and others for the runners in order to run the best they can over three- and four-mile races and then start the preparation all over again.

But nobody did it better for the Vaqueros in 2017 than Lopez and Salas. In ten meets this year, Lopez took first place six times including four meets in a row in September, including a second-place finish at the Mark Covert Classic in a race that was almost five miles and included several four-year schools. He was so dominant that he was named California Community College Athletic Association Athlete of the month for September.

Salas, for her part, took first place three times this season and practically willed a young squad to being ranked among the top teams in Southern California and the state while helping the team to several impressive wins including the Southern California Preview Meet and the UCR Invitational against Division I schools. All of this was accomplished with opponents constantly looking to knock her and her team off course as defending WSC and state champions.

With the cross country season in their rearview mirror for sophomores Lopez and Salas and track season looming in the spring, the new names on the landscape will be freshmen Antonio Arroyo, Akol Malong and Carlos Rivera who scored for the men in the state meet and Jennifer Cazarez and Genesis Siam-Alvarez for the women, among others.

But in one final mention of Raymond Lopez and Angie Salas, who earned All-American honors at the state meet with second- and fourth-place finishes along with sophomore Phillip Thomas who was seventh, they wore their uniforms proudly and carried on the tradition well.

n’s basketball (2-2) took on Los Angeles Pierce College (1-3) in a thriller that went down to the final minutes of the fourth quarter in the Nov. 14 game. The Vaqueros put on a valiant effort, but fell short. The final score was 83-76.

Glendale would come out of the gates red hot as they would pile up the points early in the game. It seemed like The Vaqueros had full control of the game. Los Angeles Pierce College (LAPC) couldn’t seem to figure out how to stop Glendale from pouring the points on.

GCC, on the other hand, were able to have good efficient scoring all while getting some nice stops. The Vaqueros finished the half strong holding a 51-38 lead.

Beginning the second half the pace was pretty even, but LA Pierce was slowly and surely cutting the lead.

Glendale began to struggle more and more on offense as they were turning the ball over a lot in the second half. LAPC would not squander the opportunity they were given by GCC as they took full advantage and had plenty of turnover points. For the Vaqueros it was simply a tale of two halves as they were out scored 45-25 in the second half. Turnovers seemed to be an issue as Glendale had 18 turnovers while LA Pierce had only 8 throughout the game.

A couple stand out players that lead the way for GCC were Serigne Athj and Chris Daniels, both picking up 15 points each as well as doing good efficient work at the free-throw line, going a combined 9 for 10.

A solid performance also came from Dominic Gully as he picked up 13 points along with 3 rebounds and 3 assists.

Another important stand out area where LA Pierce was able to edge Glendale was in the rebound department. The Vaqueros were out rebounded 45 to 31.

Glendale took advantage of free throws as the team converted 18 of 23 (78.3 percent) while LA Pierce converted 8 for 13(61.5).

Glendale took a high number of 3-pointers during the game as the team drained 12 of 26 (46.2 percent) shots all while LAPC shots from long range couldnt find the basket shooting 9 of 29 (31.5 percent).

The Vaqueros would just edge out LA Pierce in field goal percentage. Glendale was able to run a slightly more efficient offense going 23 for 52 (44.2 percent). Peirce College on the other hand went 33 for 76 (43.4 percent).

Despite Glendale having a more efficient night, Peirce College was able to sink more shots giving them an edge on the scoreboard. In the end the turnovers hurt the Vaqueros and it was too much for them to overcome in the closing moments of the game.

Glendale College will then face Long Beach on Nov. 30 in Culver City in the West L.A. Tournament.

Masterful design and modern touches are uniquely embodied in a dreamy Mediterranean-style abode located in the San Rafael Hills of Glendale, Calif. Sitting on 1.5 acres of land, this six-bed, four-and-a-half bathroom masterpiece takes its admirers right into a lush paradise.

The path to its three-car garage is covered in sleek stone, giving the property even more of an infinity, easy-flow feel. Upon walking in, one can’t help but notice the simple, yet expressive coiled staircase leading upstairs to the bedrooms.

On the first floor, one is presented with a large eat-in kitchen, designed with a rather neutral color pallet to match the home’s Mediterranean style. French doors from the breakfast nook lead directly into the backyard.

Should you leave the doors open, both spaces will collide into one,allowing for big indoor-outdoor entertaining.

It only gets better once you step out into the wrap-around patio, which features a built-in barbeque.

Once you step further out into the backyard area, breathtaking views of the city of Glendale and further up Los Angeles will make this property feel a little more like a So. Cal dwelling.

The home is listed for a whopping $1,895,000.

The one-of-a-kind home is located at 1989 Calafia Street. The listing agent is Kevin Grahn of Partners Trust real estate firm.

Do you have your mom’s eyes? Or maybe you got the short end of the stick and have your dad’s nose and receding hairline. Do you instantaneously answer with a level of confidence at routine checkups when the doctor inquires about family medical history?

Adoption is a factor that most don’t need take into account when asked these questions. Like many other underrepresented “others,” adoptees’ experiences are different.

Roughly 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year, according to a survey by Adoptionnetwork.com. Of those 135,000 children, knowledge of their biological families varies. It is at the discretion of all parties involved, except for the actual adoptee in question.

Some know they’re adopted, and some don’t have any clue. Some have met their birth parents, others haven’t. Some have never known anything other than their new/current lives, and for some that is completely OK; they are exceptionally content. But sometimes, an unexpected email from Ancestry.com surprises you with a sister, and your quiet life as a Glendale Community College counselor is “flipped upside down.”

Welcoming Christmas music permeated the second floor where Jolie Morris’ San Rafael office is located. Morris, a GCC counselor who also works with college military veterans, as well as updating the college campus catalogue, spoke about the moment that changed her life in early July.

What initially began with Morris and fellow counselor and friend, Roxanne Dominguez, signing up together to utilize ancestry.com’s DNA database a few years ago turned into something completely unexpected this summer with notification that Morris had a sister, Michelle. “I was so caught off guard,” said Morris “I didn’t think anything was going to pop up, it had been years since I did it. I then did 23andMe.com and Robert [Bogar] popped up! It had his picture and it blatantly said ‘BROTHER.’ It was like somebody just knocked me over.” This brother shares the same biological mother as Morris and her twin brother Steve.

With the help of a colleague in the office, Morris did as any normal person in 2017 would do. She immediately scoured Facebook for any clue of Bogar to deduce that this new “family member” wasn’t some random lunatic.

Upon finding serenity in that aspect, Morris reached out to Bogar and compared similar information and findings on their family trees and histories.

A previous potential biological sister resurfaced and now another additional sister is sprung on Morris. Jolie and twin Steve, Robert, and now Michelle and Lorna—all sharing the same biological mother, Dianne Paulson.

“I stopped eating for a week,” said Morris. “Everything was different and just not the same as I thought for so long, we went from one to five in no time.”

Bogar has been exceptionally supportive and equally invested, as he was the first to suggest a telephone call between Morris and himself to discuss their shared situations that all started with Dianne Paulson. “Decades ago we were all placed up for adoption -– and for good reasons, I believe.Now, through science, technology, and the persistence of some, we are now connected!” shared Robert.

Morris described the ease that comes with speaking to Robert. “Our initial conversation lasted an hour. We learned that we both love to cook and it felt like we had already known each other.”

Robert Bogar went as far to suggest that all the siblings get on a telephone conference. It seemed however, to be a little overwhelming for a a half-sister Lisa based out of Utah. “I would be totally open for it,” said Morris.

What initially began as a few hand-written notes on an envelope from her adoptive mother about Paulson is now at a count of eight potential new biological family members for Jolie Morris. Not including extended family from said members. Imagine waking up to a new person you may be related to once a day for a week, unbeknownst to you.

No matter just how overwhelming and emotionally taxing something as monumental as finding long lost family members proves to be, Morris, with the same infectious smile that accompanied the lingering Christmas music, is nothing short of welcoming to these new branches on her meticulously investigated/researched* family tree(s). All in time to place just a few more gifts underneath another, more seasonal tree.

“As the year wraps up, it has been a remarkable one for me from this perspective. Certainly, I feel, nothing we had anticipated happening. A good thing I feel, none the less,” said Bogar.

The art of empathic and informative conversation is a critical service provided by the diverse offices within Student Services. This is enhanced by the varied resources attached to each office.

Counselors and specialty professionals in Student Services are here to help students better plan for the future.

It cannot be stressed enough that utomated and digital student tracking systems cannot replace this quality one on one communication, which can be provided in person and/or online, preferably in a combination of both.

While these computerized systems are important to confirm that proper services were provided and track student numbers and success, the art of conversation is paramount in the relationship between students and student services. Students need to be reminded and encouraged to learn about the services at their disposal, learn what their needs are and practice asking for assistance and guidance by utilizing those resources.

Please scan the QR codes below for information regarding the various services at your disposal.